Fair Rosamond, 1830
Type: Schooner ;
Purchased : 30 Feb 1830 ; Disposal date or year : 1845
Notes:

The ex-slaver Dos Amigos, captured by the Black Joke, tender to the Dryad, was condemned by the British and Spanish Court of Mixed Commission at Sierra Leone this "beautiful" schooner was purchased into the service.

24 Mar 1831 the Dryad departed with her tenders Fair Rosamond and Black Joke, to run down the coast to Prince's Island and Fernando Po.

27 Mar 1831 Off Cape Mount, and have set a course to the south, however, by the 31st the current has taken us some 45 miles off course and we are now off Cestos/Sestos.

1 Apr 1831 Off Cape Palmos.

5 Apr 1831 Are now aware that the rainy season has started the daily showers penetrating through to the skin in no time.

12 Apr 1831 in sight of the Isle of St. Thomas.

17 Apr 1831 arrived off West Bay, St. Princes Island.

19 Apr 1931 the Atholl, Medina, and Sea Flower, the latter also tender to the Dryad, arrive at Prince's Island from Fernando Po.

Authorised to arrest vessels involved in the Slave Trade.

20-21 Jul 1831 detained in lat. 5° 30' N. long. 4° 0' E., bound from Lagos to Havana the Spanish slave schooner Potosi, 98 tons, Juan Bautista Arana, master, with 192 slaves on board, which was sent for adjudication to the British and Spanish Mixed Court of Justice, Sierra Leone, and on 22 Aug 1831 sentenced to be condemned. 7 of the negroes died whilst the vessel was en route to Sierra Leone for adjudication, and by the time the negroes were to be registered and emancipated 2 more had died.

10 Sep 1831 the Fair Rosamond and Black Joke, tenders to the Dryad, detained in lat. 4° 30' N. long. 7° 10' E., in the River Bonny, when bound from the River Bonny to Cuba, the Regulus and the Rapido, Santiago Alonzo, master, who, whilst they retreated up the River were seen throwing their slaves, shackled together in twos, overboard, and whilst a few were saved it was estimated that probably about 150 or so may have been drowned by the slave traders in their attempt to save their vessels. Both vessels were taken to Sierra Leone to be condemned. Whilst slaves were found on board the Regulus when she was captured, none were found on board the Rapido and it took the evidence of 2 slaves who survived being thrown overboard to convince the judges to convict her.

Oct 1831 at Fernando Po, the new base set up by the Admiralty to replace Sierra Leone, it is reported that out of her complement of 40, there have been 2 deaths, and 10 cases of fever.

Portsmouth 25 Jul 1832 Arrived from the coast of Africa.

Portsmouth 4 Aug 1832 has been brought in from Spithead and is being dismantled in preparation for being laid up in Ordinary.

Jan 1833 it has been reported in a local newspaper at Portsmouth that in the light of the vessel's superior sailing qualities it has been decided to repair her.

Portsmouth 31 May 1833 Commissioned and to prepare for service on the coast of Africa.

Portsmouth 5 Jun 1833 Undocked and taken into the basin to receive her masts.

Portsmouth 8 Jun - 6 Jul 1833 Fitting out in Harbour.

Portsmouth 9 Jul 1833 Has gone out of the harbour to Spithead.

Portsmouth 10 Jul 1833 Sailed for Oporto & Lisbon.

Lisbon 20 Aug 1833 Sailed for Sierra Leone.

Per a report made to Parliament in 1842, at some time during 1834 the Brig Fair Rosamond, 3 guns, Complement: 44, was involved in combatting the Slave Trade and experienced 1 Death.

1 Jan 1834 On the Cape of Good Hope and Coast of Africa Station.

Ascension 2 Apr 1834 Is reported to have recently sailed for the Bight of Benin.

Gambia 6 Jun 1834 Reported to be in the Bight of Benin.

27 Apr 1834 detained in lat. 4° 20' N. long. 8° 26' E., off the mouth of the Old Calabar River, the Spanish slave schooner Pantica, Jozé Carbo, master, with 317 slaves on board, which was sent for adjudication to the British and Spanish Mixed Court of Justice, Sierra Leone, and on 2 Jun 1834 was condemned and 270 negroes emancipated, 47 having died since the vessel was detained.

5 Aug 1834 detained in lat. 0° 36' N. long. 6° 14' E., en route from the River Benin to St. Jago de Cuba, the Spanish slave schooner Maria Isabel, Jozé Mauri, master, with 146 slaves on board, which was sent for adjudication to the British and Spanish Mixed Court of Justice, Sierra Leone, and on 9 Sep 1834 sentenced to be condemned.

Per a report made to Parliament in 1842, at some time during 1835 was involved in combatting the Slave Trade and experienced 1 Death.

3 Jan 1835 detained in lat. 0° 7' 0" N. long. 9° 14' 0" E. the Portuguese slave schooner Maria, with 40 slaves on board, which was sent for adjudication to the British and Portuguese Court of Mixed Commission, Sierra Leone, and sentenced to be condemned.

Sierra Leone 28 Feb 1835 is reported to have been detached from the West Coast of Africa to Ascension for provisions : midshipman James Miller and four seamen were invalided to England in the Hibernia.

29 Jul 1835 detained in at lat. 2° 39' 0" N. long. 8° 4' 0" E. the Spanish slave brigantine Volador, which was sent for adjudication to the British and Spanish Mixed Court of Justice, Sierra Leone, and sentenced to be condemned.

28 Dec 1835 the ship's boats detained, in lat. 2° 0' N. long. 4° 50' W., whilst en route from the River Nun to Cuba, the Spanish slave schooner Segunda Iberia, Mariano Casas, master, with 260 slaves on board, which was sent for adjudication to the British and Spanish Mixed Court of Justice, Sierra Leone, and on 3 Feb 1836 sentenced to be condemned.

Per a report made to Parliament in 1842, at some time during 1836 was involved in combatting the Slave Trade.

28-29 Jan 1836 detained in lat. 4° 17' N. long. 2° 10' E. the Spanish slave brig Esplorador, Cenon Ignacio de Aldecoa, master, which was sent for adjudication to the British and Spanish Mixed Court of Justice, Sierra Leone, and on 10 Aug 1836 sentenced to be condemned.

10 Mar 1836 detained off the slaving establishment in the Old Calabar River, familiarly known as the "Duke Ephraim's Town," the Spanish slave schooner Mariposa / Maripoza, Pedro March Oliver, master, which was sent for adjudication to the British and Spanish Mixed Court of Justice, Sierra Leone, and on 27 Sep 1836 sentenced to be condemned.

Sierra Leone 28 Mar 1836 reported to be in the Bights on the West Coast of Africa.

Per a report made to Parliament in 1842, at some time during 1837 was involved in combatting the Slave Trade and experienced 1 Death in Action, Total No of Deaths: 4.

Portsmouth circa 11 Feb 1837 arrived from the Coast of Africa (1 Dec), Ascension (1 Jan).

Portsmouth 8 Apr 1837 was commissioned on Thursday for service on the Coast of Africa. The following officers have been appointed to her : Lieutenant RW Oliver ; Second Master RG Willes ; Clerk in Charge GR Cole.

Portsmouth 2 Jun 1837 at Spithead.

23 Sep 1837 detained in the River Benin the Portuguese slave brig Veloz, which was sent for adjudication to the British and Portuguese Court of Mixed Commission, Sierra Leone, and on 5 May 1838 sentenced to be forfeited.

28 Sep 1837 detained in the River Benin, en route to Pernambuco, the Portuguese slave brig Camoes, Antonio Gomez da Silva, master, with 138 slaves on board, which was sent for adjudication to the British and Portuguese Court of Mixed Commission, Sierra Leone, and on 22 Jan 1838 sentenced to be restored to her master.

Per a report made to Parliament in 1842, at some time during 1838 was involved in combatting the Slave Trade and experienced 4 Deaths.

13 Jul 1838 detained, following a 2 hour chase, 1 day out in lat. 4° 15' N., long. 7° 20' W., en route from the River Bonny to St. Jago de Cuba, the Portuguese two topsail slave brig Paquete Feliz, Manoel de Brito Lima, master, with 195 slaves on board, which was sent for adjudication to the British and Portuguese Court of Mixed Commission, Sierra Leone, and on 4 Aug 1838 sentenced to be condemned.

21 Aug 1838 detained in Accra Roads, 64 days out from Havana, bound from St. Paul's de Loanda and Matanzas, the Spanish slave two topsail schooner Constitucao, Eduardo Roberto, master, which was sent for adjudication to the British and Spanish Mixed Court of Justice, Sierra Leone, and on 12 Oct 1838 sentenced to be condemned for being engaged in the illicit traffic in slaves.

Per a report made to Parliament in 1842, at some time during 1839 was involved in combatting the Slave Trade and experienced 2 Deaths.

22 Jan 1839 detained in lat. 0° 28' 0" N. long. 9° 19' 0" E. off the Gaboon River, the Spanish slave brig Matilde, which was sent for adjudication to the British and Spanish Mixed Court of Justice, Sierra Leone, and on 8 Mar 1839 sentenced to be forfeited.

31 Jan 1839 detained in the Gaboon the Spanish slave brig Tejo, which was sent for adjudication to the British and Spanish Mixed Court of Justice, Sierra Leone, and on 19 Mar 1839 sentenced to be forfeited.

25 Jun 1839 detained in lat. 3° 29' 0" N. long. 9° 11' 0" E., en route from Calabar to Prince's Island, the Portuguese slave sloop Sedo ou Tarde / Sedoan Tarde, Luiz Antonio, master, with 23 slaves on board, which was sent for adjudication to the British and Portuguese Court of Mixed Commission, Sierra Leone, and on 12 Aug 1839 sentenced to be condemned.

25-26 Jun 1839 detained in lat. 3° 29' N. long. 9° 11' E., the Portuguese slave schooner Pomba d'Africa, Jorge Pires da Franca e Almeida, master, with 155 slaves on board, which was sent for adjudication to the British and Portuguese Court of Mixed Commission, Sierra Leone, and on 12 Aug 1839 sentenced to be condemned.

4 Sep 1839 detained in lat. 5° 48' N. long. 1° 0' E., the Brazilian slave barque Augusto / Augusta, B. X. de Castro, master, which was sent for adjudication to the British and Brazilian Court of Mixed Commission, Sierra Leone, and on 19 Oct 1839 sentenced to be condemned.

5 Sep 1840 Portsmouth may be expected to arrive at Spithead, from the coast of Africa hourly.

17 Sep 1840 Portsmouth arrived Spithead from the coast of Africa. She came into harbour yesterday, and is dismantling. She is ordered to be surveyed with a view to ascertain her defects, and is to be paid off. She has been absent from England three years and four months during which period she has captured nine vessels, of which one was cleared and the remaining eight condemned. Of those who quitted England and have returned in her, her Commander Lieutenant Oliver is the only officer, with eleven seamen and boys, and one marine ; and of her complement of 40, officers inclusive, she has lost by death three officers and eleven men, being more than a third ; the remainder, who invalided, had all suffered severely from climate and returned with broken constitutions. She left the Cape of Good Hope, 21 May ; St. Helena, 8 Jun ; Ascension 2 Jul ; Prince's Island, 24th ; Sierra Leone, 6 Aug., and passed to the eastward of the island of Flores on the 24th, since which she has experienced a continuation of calms and easterly winds until the 13th inst., when she got a heavy gale N. W., with which she ran to the entrance of the Channel, and up Channel, passing numerous vessels steering the same way. The small-pox broke out on board after quitting the Cape, which caused her delay at Ascension of a month, on which island she has left, labouring under the disease, two whites of her crew, and 12 black, supernumerary kromen, (sic) left at the Cape by ships gone to China.

3 Oct 1840 Portsmouth, was paid off last Wednesday, when the crew were sent away on leave ; on their return, a portion of them will join the Excellent, and the remainder the Queen. John Read, boatswain's mate of the Fair Rosamond, has been awarded a medal, a £15 gratuity, and a pension of £38 8s. for 23 years' service, 17 of which he was petty officer.

13 Oct 1840 Mate James Charles Clark, late Fair Rosamond ; qualified for Lieutenant at the RN College.

27 Nov 1840 Carpenter William Kingdom, carpenter's mate of the Queen, and Robert Hall, carpenter's mate of Fair Rosamond, have been promoted to acting carpenters, and appointed to be borne in the Victory.

6 Mar 1841, Portsmouth, was undocked.

5 Apr 1841, Portsmouth, taken out of the basin.

10 Apr 1841, Lieutenant A. G. Bulman, appointed to the Fair Rosamond, about to be commissioned at Portsmouth.

17 Apr 1841, Portsmouth, was commissioned by Lieutenant A. G. Bulman.

17 Apr 1841, Second Master Joshua Whiting (acting) ; Clerk E. S. F. Chessman, Clerk in Charge, appointed to the Fair Rosamond;

24 Apr 1841, Portsmouth, having recently been commissioned, and manned in a few days after hoisting her pendants : the prospects of a warm weather and chance of prize money being great inducements to the blue jackets. The Avon arrived from Liverpool and Bristol, with newly raised men for the ships recently commissioned at Portsmouth.

29 Apr 1841, Mate E. J. Voules. appointed to the Fair Rosamond;

1 May 1841, Portsmouth, fitting for the coast of Africa.

8 May 1841, Assistant-Surgeon Alexander Scott, appointed to the Fair Rosamond.

12 Jun 1841, Portsmouth, she was mustered and inspected this morning by the Flag Captain.

12 Jun 1841, Second Masters J. M. Willis, appointed to the Fair Rosamond ,

14 Jun 1841, Portsmouth, went out to Spithead.

18 Jun 1841, Portsmouth, sailed for the coast of Africa.

18 Jun 1841, Mate W. D. Carroll, appointed to the Royal George, vice Voules, appointed to the Fair Rosamond.

6 Dec 1841, it is reported at Portsmouth that Assistant-Surgeon Scott had died in the West Indies.

11 Dec 1841, arrived at Jamaica with $50,000 freight.

11 Apr 1842, Assistant-Surgeon J. Mahon has been appointed. Clerk F. Cleeve has been appointed from the Illustrious, whilst E. Cheeseman has been appointed from the Fair Rosamond to the Cleopatra.

15 Oct 1842, by news received in England from West Indies the Fair Rosamond has relieved the Electra at St. Juan de Nicaragua, and has joined by the Charybdis, from Port Royal, with a view to dealing with the mis-treatment of British subjects.

29 Jan 1843, it is reported in England that the Fair Rosamond is now at Port Royal.

24 May 1843, at Bermuda.

3 Jul 1843, prize money (return of tonnage fees) due for the capture of the Constitucao, taken 2l Aug 1838, advertised for payment in the latest copy of the Navy List (June '43, covering the period for the last 3 months).

13 May 1844 is reported to be at Halifax.

Circa 20 May 1844 sailed from Halifax to take the Hon. M. Tobin, Lloyds Agent, to the ship Saladin, as a result of suspected mutiny, piracy and murder on the said ship on the high seas.

7 Jun 1844 departed Halifax for Newfoundland.

Portsmouth 7 Nov 1844, paid off, and will be surveyed before being re-commissioned.

Portsmouth 1 Nov 1845, has been docked and is being broken up having been found unfit for further service.